“Not a threat?” Titania mocked, making me want to stab her. “The army that attacked us this very evening, who followed the First Queen and killed for her without fail, are not a threat? They are nearly as dangerous as you, Iron Prince. They must be dealt with, one way or another.”
“Do you wish another war, then, Queen Titania?” Meghan challenged. “Or are you simply advising the complete genocide of a whole race of faery? These Forgotten are not as dangerous as the Iron fey when they were under Ferrum and Machina. Surely there is a way the Forgotten can live without being a danger to Faery.”
A very loud, bored yawn interrupted what would’ve been another challenge from Titania. “I believe,” said a large gray cat sitting on a rock where nothing had been before, “that you are all missing the obvious solution.
“The Forgotten are huddled in the Between,” Grimalkin went on, curling his tail around himself as the entire Summer, Winter and Iron courts turned to stare at him. “They must not become a danger to the Nevernever or the Veil, that is very clear. Who is the only one, besides the First Queen, that can slip between worlds? Who has already carved out a place, an entire kingdom, within the Veil? Whom do the Forgotten already listen to?” With another yawn, the cat shook his head and bent to lick his back toes. “Really, it is a wonder Faery has survived this long,” he mused. “I shudder to think of what would happen were I not here to point out the obvious.”
Silence fell after Grimalkin’s statement. Titania looked like she wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words to argue or protest. Oberon merely looked thoughtful, but Mab had the faintest trace of a smile on her lips. It was gone in the next instant, but it was there.
I looked at Meghan, saw her exchange a glance with Ash. He gave a grim nod, and she closed her eyes.
Straightening her shoulders, she gazed down at Keirran.
“Prince Keirran.” Her voice rang with authority, and everything went perfectly still, holding its breath. Keirran was motionless, staring rigidly at the ground, waiting. “You have been found guilty of treason against the Iron, Winter and Summer courts. As monarch of Mag Tuiredh, I hereby sentence you to exile...in the Between. You are no longer welcome in the Nevernever, the trods will be forever closed to you, and you are not to enter Faery through the Veil or by any other path.” Her voice trembled for just a moment, before growing strong again. “From this day on, you will be known as the Forgotten King, Guardian of the Veil, and you will make sure your subjects never again threaten the Nevernever. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Keirran whispered, sounding dazed.
“Then rise, King of the Forgotten,” Meghan said. “And return to your subjects.” She blinked rapidly as Keirran rose, still in a state of shock. “Go to the Forgotten. They are your responsibility now. Tell them that the war is over, and the courts will leave them in peace if they do the same.”
“I will, Your Majesty,” Keirran said, and there was a change in his voice now. Determined and grave, that same resolve I’d seen before, but without the stubborn abandon. “I promise, I will make this right. I will earn my title and my redemption, even if it takes me a thousand years.”
“It might, Forgotten King,” Mab said softly. The Winter Queen did not seem angry or hostile, but her voice was a subtle warning. “We are fey. We do not forget. We do not forgive. And we will remember this day for eternity. If you hope for redemption, I’m afraid you will be waiting a very long time.”
Keirran bowed to them all. “Then I had best get started quickly.”
“Hold,” Meghan said as Keirran took a step back. Facing the other rulers and the army of fey behind them, she raised her voice. “It is done,” she stated. “The sentence has been carried out. Keirran will depart the Nevernever momentarily, but before he leaves, I would speak to my son alone.”
Oberon nodded. The three rulers turned away, after Titania shot a vicious, disgusted look at Meghan, and the army behind them began to clear out. Soon, it was just me, Kenzie and Puck standing across from Meghan, Ash and Keirran. I looked around and, with a start, saw that Wolf had vanished, slipping back into the unknown where he’d come from, having finally gotten tired of crowds and eternal faery politics. Grimalkin sat on the same rock a few feet away, still washing his fur but probably listening to everything we said. Razor poked his head out of Kenzie’s hair, bared his teeth at the cat and ducked back again, muttering “bad kitty” under his breath.
“Well.” Puck sighed, lacing his hands behind his skull. “Here we are, one more time. I guess this is See Ya Later, for all of us.” He glanced at Keirran, raising an eyebrow. “I hope you don’t expect me to call you ‘Your Majesty’ now, kid. ’Cause that ain’t gonna happen.”
Keirran gave a sad smile. “Thank you,” he whispered, soft enough that no other faery would catch it. “All of you. I know I don’t deserve it but...I’ll try to do this right. For the Forgotten. And Annwyl. Ethan?” He swallowed hard, and his gaze rose to mine. “I know I’ve wronged you the most of all. And you still came back for me. You and Kenzie both.” He glanced at the girl beside me, and she smiled, though Razor hissed at Keirran and muttered “Bad master,” then turned his back on him. Keirran’s eyes clouded with pain and guilt, and he took a second to compose himself.
“I...owe you more than my life,” Keirran went on, stumbling a bit over the words. “And after what I did to you, I can’t ever begin to apologize, but—” he raked a hand through his hair “—I just... I wanted to let you know...”